Ellwood City Council: Mancini leads Dems

By Mark E. Crepp, Ledger Staff

Wednesday

May 16, 2007 at 12:01 AM

ELLWOOD CITY - She has been a member of council for less than a year, but Marilyn Mancini has already impressed voters, as she led the Democratic balloting for council seat nominations in Tuesday's primary.

Mancini was appointed to council to fill the vacancy when Dom A. Viccari resigned to become borough manager last June.

On Tuesday, she was leading a five-candidate Democratic field with 537 votes and with about 89 percent of the vote counted in Lawrence County by 11:40 p.m. In the lone precinct in Beaver County, all of the votes had been counted.

The top three vote-getters gain nomination for the fall general election.

Mancini said she was happy with her first political experience and she was "very thankful for the support from friends and family."

"It's exciting," she said as she drove from polling place to polling place hoping to get an idea of the vote tally. She said she received "a lot of positive comments from people" as she visited various polling places throughout the day.

Mancini was followed by former Councilman Ralph Chiappetta, who had 458 votes, while newcomer John T. Todorich was next with 444 votes. Gene Coccia, who was appointed to a seat on council in February after the death of Councilman Lou Cavalier on Feb. 6, had 413 votes.

Another former councilman, Todd McDevitt, trailed the field with 309 votes.

On the Republican side, all three candidates were assured nominations for the three spots on the ballot.

Anthony J. Celli, a former Ellwood City Area School Board member, received 221 votes, followed by newcomer David K. Hunter with 201 votes, and current council President Glenn E. Jones with 200 votes.

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